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Floods in the Desert: Did you know why lightning floods in dry areas are especially dangerous?
Lightning flooding is a phenomenon of rapid flooding in low-lying areas such as rivers, dry lakes, and depressions. This type of flooding can be caused by severe thunderstorms, heavy rains from hurricanes or tropical storms, and meltwater from ice and snow. Lightning floods have many causes and are particularly dangerous in dry areas. Although there is not much rainfall in these areas, when the weather changes, it can bring a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time, leading to instant floods. Once the amount of water exceeds the ability of the ground to absorb it, flooding can quickly occur and endanger lives.
Lightning floods typically occur in less than six hours, and their suddenness and rapidity make them particularly dangerous.
Causes of lightning floods
Lightning floods most commonly occur in dry areas that have received recent rainfall, but they can occur anywhere downstream of the rainfall source, even miles away. The lightning flooding problem is further complicated by the fact that these areas often face special terrain-based conditions, such as melting ice after a volcanic eruption.
For example, when heavy rainfall strikes, the lack of water-absorbing soil on the ground will quickly lead to an increase in surface runoff, doubling the pressure on rivers and waterways. In addition, these areas often lack adequate drainage systems. When heavy rains occur suddenly, water flow cannot be effectively directed, which can lead to disasters.
The U.S. Weather Service advises people to "Turn around, don't drown" as it warns people to escape impending lightning floods.
Dangers of lightning floods
The harm caused by lightning floods cannot be underestimated. In the United States, lightning flooding kills more people each year than lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes. In many cases, more than half of the people who die from flash floods are swept away by currents while trying to cross flooded intersections. Just two feet of water is enough to sweep away a vehicle the size of an SUV. Therefore, even in the context of low awareness of the phenomenon, people tend to underestimate its risks.
Why lightning floods in deserts are particularly dangerous
In desert areas, the intensity of lightning floods is of particular concern. First, in these arid regions, precipitation events are rare, but when they occur, they are often accompanied by huge amounts of water flow. Secondly, the soil in these areas cannot absorb water, and rainwater quickly flows into dams or rivers, causing floods.
Some desert roads often run on riverbeds without bridges, which makes drivers may encounter sudden floods under clear skies, causing great danger. Furthermore, a lack of regular rainfall prevents waterways from being renewed and cleaned, so floods in desert areas often carry large amounts of debris, branches and other debris, increasing the risk of flooding.
The impact of lightning floods
Lightning floods have a multi-faceted impact on the environment, posing a huge threat to buildings, infrastructure, ecosystems and human survival. The impact of lightning flooding in urban areas is particularly difficult to assess because of its wide range and diverse nature.
In an analysis of data between 2006 and 2012, the impact was primarily in small, rural areas, with the shortest flood events generally being the deadliest, the study showed. Areas most affected are often at night, and most casualties involve cars. Additionally, targeting the severity of flood impacts, a proposed impact severity scale aims to better predict and plan responses to future floods.
Lightning floods can cause rapid soil erosion, affecting agricultural production and species growth in the area.
When faced with lightning floods in desert areas, it is crucial to avoid rigid attitudes and underestimation of conventional dangers. Can we become more aware of these natural hazards and therefore better protect ourselves and the environment around us?
